Capivasertib Decision Leaves Patients in Scotland Behind the Rest of the UK

We are deeply saddened to share that the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) have announced today that they have not approved capivasertib for use on the NHS in Scotland.

Capivasertib is a targeted treatment for people with hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative breast cancer that has spread after earlier treatment. It is especially designed for patients whose cancer has changes in the PIK3CA, AKT1, or PTEN genes - changes that are found in around half of people with this type of breast cancer.

The drug is already available to patients in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This decision means people in Scotland will not have access to capivasertib, leaving no targeted treatment options for this type of secondary breast cancer.

Dr Sarah Thomas, Head of Education & Research said: "We know this news will feel devastating for many patients and families. It is an especially difficult moment because treatments like capivasertib can offer hope and choice when options are limited. We want to reassure you that we will keep pushing for better access to treatments in Scotland. We will continue to stand with everyone affected by this decision, and to do all we can to make sure that people in Scotland are not left behind."

Working alongside Breast Cancer Now and METUPUK, we’re calling on the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to urgently engage with the SMC to quickly address concerns and resubmit capivasertib for further assessment as soon as possible so the treatment can be made available to everyone who could benefit.

We’re bringing together people living with secondary breast cancer in Scotland to help shape fairer access to new treatments. To have your say and stay informed about the latest drug decisions in Scotland, sign up here. Family members are welcome to join.

If you would like to get in touch, our support services are here for you: hello@make2ndscount.co.uk